THE call to replace the Kelantan PKR Youth chief Mohd Hafidz Rizal Amran was made by the national Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad alone.

Nik Nazmi’s deputy, Dr Afif Bahardin, said the decision was made without the matter being discussed in a meeting at the national level.

“Hafidz’s removal was decided by Nik Nazmi. The matter was not brought up with the (leadership) committee or in any meeting for a decision to be made,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Hafidz received news of his removal this morning via a WhatsApp message from Nik Nazmi.

Nik Nazmi earlier told The Malaysian Insight that the decision to remove Hafidz was made following a meeting between the central and state PKR Youth, which was attended by his deputy, Dr Afif.

Hafidz’s sacking comes after his former vice-chief Mohd Khairul Amin Ab Rahman said he has lost the support of a majority of Kelantan PKR Youth divisions. Khairul said they have signed a memorandum urging Hafidz to quit.

Dr Afif said he attended the meeting last Wednesday night to listen to the problems in Kelantan PKR Youth because he was invited by Hafidz and Kelantan PKR communications chief Mohd Sukirman Mustafa, not because Nik Nazmi or the national PKR Youth told him to go.

“After hearing what the issue was, I offered to be the mediator to solve the issue. I asked for a ceasefire between both sides while the national AMK (PKR Youth) is given time to decide on the matter in a meeting.

“From what I had heard, the other Youth leaders were unhappy with Hafidz because he supposedly failed to organise programmes. He did and he had evidence to show. It was not really a big issue that could not be resolved.”

Dr Afif said everyone was agreeable to a ceasefire and allow the central leadership to deliberate on the matter, but Khairul proceeded to contact the media and called for Hafidz’s resignation after the meeting.

“I did not endorse that decision. There was no decision made at the meeting to remove Hafidz. Even the national AMK has yet to convene, as our earlier scheduled meeting has been postponed, to address the matter.

“The decision (to remove Hafidz) was an individual’s decision.”

When asked to clarify his decision, Nik Nazmi confirmed that he made the decision to change the Kelantan PKR Youth chief, adding that such changes were nothing out of the ordinary.

He declined to say why he decided to remove Hafidz.

“This is not the first time we have changed state chiefs. The decision (in Kelantan) was based on the meeting between the state and central AMK. The process was followed, with the feedback from the state party chief and division youth leaders taken into consideration.

“As national Youth chief, I have the authority to change the state chiefs. It is not something we need to take to the national AMK (for discussion).”

Hafidz removal has also comes at a time when PKR is dealing with an internal split between members in favour of talking with PAS to avoid three-cornered fights in the next general election and those who oppose the talks.

PAS ended its political cooperation with PKR in May this year and has since warmed up to Umno. The Islamist party recently declared that it would contest 42 seats out of 56 state seats in Selangor. – August 28, 2017.